Crime

OROVILLE, CA - An Oroville business owner caught a man who broke into his store and stole lawn mowers early Saturday morning.

Oroville police officers responded to Air Cooled Unlimited, at 2816 Olive Highway, around 3:27 a.m. after getting a call from the store owner saying he was holding the suspect at gunpoint, Sgt. John Bruschi said.

The business owner said he and an employee were camping out in the back fenced yard so they could deter a burglary after the business was broken into several times in the last few weeks. During the stake out, the owner said they saw the suspect cut through the fence and then take two lawn mowers.

Bruschi said the owner and the employee then approached the suspect and held him at gunpoint until officers arrived.

Luncha was reported missing by his employer in late March of Butte County after renting a silver Town and Country Van for Luncha. Pavey said police are still investigating why the employer reported him missing.

YUBA CITY, CA - A chase involving a suspected armed robber began in Marysville and ended with police shooting the man to death in Yuba City.

Yuba City police spokeswoman Shawna Pavey said the man and the minivan matched the description from two fast food robberies this week.

Yuba City officers, Yuba County sheriff's deputies, Marysville police officers, Sutter County sheriff's deputies, and Wheatland police officers all assisted in the pursuit which ended in the area of Plumas and A Streets around 2:45 a.m.

Witnesses told News10 they heard police on a loudspeaker offer the suspect several changes to surrender before they opened fire.

Mike Bingham, who had stopped for food at the nearby 7-11, said he heard about three dozen shots.

Bingham said that just before the shooting started, a second man in the back of the minivan waved a white piece of cloth and was allowed to leave the vehicle.

The robbery happened around 11:12 p.m. in the drive-thru at 631 10th Street, Marysville police said.

The suspect drove up to the drive-thru window, told the clerk he had a gun and demanded he open the cash register. Police said when the clerk complied, the suspect reached through the window, grabbed the cash and drove away from the scene.

The clerk told police he did not see a weapon on the suspect. Surveillance video captured the entire theft, which also did not show a weapon.

The suspect is described as a white man in his 30s, about 6-feet tall, with a slim build. He has brown eyes and eyebrows with short scruffy facial hair and a shaved head that is bald on top.

Anyone with information is urged to call Marysville police at 530-749-3900.